Discover Mexico through its flavors

Traditions in your plate

The best way to learn about a new place is by tasting its food: through the flavors, we can know more about the traditions and history of the people who live in these places.

Did you know that since 2010, Mexico’s cuisine is considered an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO? That is because of its vast history and traditional ingredients. Some of these dishes have a recipe that remains intact even when they have created hundreds of years ago. That’s why in this blog we want to show you eight Mexican dishes you need to try while you visit us.

1.-Huitlacoche or Corn Smut

Maybe this exotic Mexican dish doesn’t have the most beautiful appearance, but believe us when we say that it’s tasty and delicious in quesadillas, tacos, or made with squash blossom. The huitlacoche is a grey fungus that grows in corn between the months of  July and September. In Mexico, it’s considered the Mexican Truffle.

2.-Huauzontles

Believe it or not, with beans, avocado, and peanuts, this is another eatable Mexican plant. It can be prepared battered and stuffed with cheese, or as they eat it in many places: Huauzontle Cream, made with milk, chili, and other ingredients.

Besides its tasty flavor, huauzontle has a prehispanic history in Mexico. It was used as an important tribute during the Aztec Empire, but after the arrival of the Spaniards to Mexico, its harvest and consumption were prohibited.

3.-Sopa de piedra or Stone Soup

This is one of the most extraordinary dishes you will taste in the state of Oaxaca, place where this recipe was created by the Chinantecs, an ethnicity from San Felipe Usila, Tuxtepec. It is served in a calabash and every ingredient is placed raw. Cilantro, shrimp, fish, chili, water, shallots, and water are part of this creation. The magic of this dish is that everything is cooked with hot stones for 3 o 4 minutes until the rocks break, then the soup is ready.

Read more: The culinary art of yucatecan cuisine

4.-Relleno negro with chicken or turkey

Created in Yucatan, Mexico, this recipe is delicious, spicy and black? Yes! This color is due to the roasted species of chili used to create the mass of this dish, it can be made with chicken, turkey, or pork.

There is a variant of this meal named “Chilmole' made only with pork and plums. You can enjoy it in tacos, sandwiches or as better known in Yucatan: Tortas. Don’t forget the “But', it’s like a meatloaf made with pork meat and eggs cooked inside the black broth of this meal, the best part is when you eat it with handmade tortillas.

5.-Flores de maguey or Maguey Flowers

Surprise! Not only the Tequila comes from the maguey plant! According to the people who have eaten this meal, its flavor is similar to chicken, so it’s a good option for vegetarians.  It can be cooked with eggs, cheese, and tomatoes,  in some places these flowers are served as meatballs in chili sauce or tacos.

Fun fact: did you know that the maguey only blooms once in its life? This happens at the age of 15 years when the flowers appear in a stem over 10 meters of height announcing the plant’s death.

6.-Mole

This is the result of a culinary process from the Pre-hispanic era, when this meal was known as “Mulli'which means potage or mix. Nowadays we have over 50 different types of mole, such as cheese mole, white mole, almond mole, black mole and the famous mole from the City of Puebla.

This recipe includes over 15 ingredients: chocolate, tortillas, peanut, nuts, raisins, sesame seeds, onion, garlic, plantains, pasilla chili, and the list continues to create one of the most delicious dishes in Mexico. The traditional way to eat this meal is with chicken and white rice.

Tip: Mexico celebrates every year the “Festival of Mole Poblano' in June in the City of Puebla.

7.-Pozole

This meal is like a soup made with maize grains, chicken or pork meat, radishes, lettuce, tortillas chips, chili powder, avocado, cheese, and crackling pork. The word pozole comes from the nahuatl “pozolli' that means boiled. There’s a word of the Cahita ethnicity which is'Posoli' and it means cooked maize.

This is the perfect breakfast after a party night, at least that is what Mexicans say!

8.-Cochinita Pibil 

Are you ready to taste the Yucatecan love? This is one of the most delicious meals you will ever taste in the Yucatan Peninsula. It is made with pork, seasoned with achiote, bitter orange, salt, and wrapped in plantain leafs. It is cooked in the ground for at least 4 hours  and served with sauce made with habanero chile and onions.

You can choose if you want to eat it in tacos, sandwiches or tortas.

Maybe after reading this blog, you are craving to taste at least once…well maybe all of these dishes to experience the original flavors of the Mexican creativity. We know our country is a vast universe of traditions and history so if you have tasted other incredible dishes, please tell us:

What is the most exotic mexican dish you have ever eaten?